What Does A School Nurse Do All Day?
Growing up, many of us were never lucky enough to have a school nurse. In the past decade the idea of a school nurse has shifted from someone in the office calling home if you weren't feeling well to a designated registered nurse to care for minor cuts to implementing individual health care plans for those with chronic diseases.
School nurses are responsible for:
- Access the health needs of everyone in the building and provide evidence-based interventions; whether someone needs an ice pack, is feeling ill, requires a daily medication, or needs assistance managing a chronic condition, I am the person you see if you have a health concern.
- The school nurse acts as a liaison between the school community and the medical community to advocate for students with medical needs so that they can remain in the least restrictive environment as possible.
- Educating students and staff on health conditions that may impact our school environment; with all the different food allergies, all staff members need to know how to correctly inject an Epi-Pen OR perhaps it is flu season and some students would benefit from a lesson on how to effectively wash their hands.
- Emergency preparedness; this can include anything from an asthma attack to a building visitor complaining of chest pain. Being a part of the school's crisis team allows for a plan to be put in place, where everyone knows their role, should any emergency occur.
- Maintaining health records for students; this involves making sure that every student is in compliance with state immunization requirements as well as identifying and knowing any health concerns that may impact a student. Having the complete picture of a student's health status and help determine my next actions during an assessment.
- Vision and hearing screening; a quick screen can help determine if a more thorough exam by an audiologist or optometrist is necessary.
- Supporting social-emotional health; sometimes a stomach ache stems from anxiety and to really discover what is troubling a child, building a relationship and being a listening ear can provide more comfort than anything else.
- Many, many, many other things! There's always paperwork, reports, and phone calls to be made, but my first priority is always my students!
To truly understand the importance of a school nurse, please ready the American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on the Role of the School Nurse in Providing School Health Services.
